1-300 Italian House of Savoy Crest Decals
These 1-300 Italian House of Savoy Crest decals reproduce the aircraft identification markings represented by this sheet for use on 1-300 scale aircraft miniatures. They are intended for historically appropriate aircraft, units, and periods associated with the marking.
Decal Information
The sheet includes Italian House of Savoy Crest markings suitable for use on 1-300 scale aircraft miniatures.
They are printed on clear-background waterslide decal paper. They need to be individually cut out. Apply over a properly prepared and gloss-coated model surface using normal waterslide-decal techniques.
Key Historical Details
Region / Nation: Italian
Service: Italian Military Aviation
Time Period: Period Appropriate to the Marking
Primary Marking: Aircraft Identification Markings
Scale: 1-300
Application: Historically appropriate aircraft and aviation subjects
Historical Information
These Italian House of Savoy Crest decals reproduce the royal emblem carried on many aircraft of the Regia Aeronautica, the Royal Italian Air Force, before and during World War II. The crest represents the ruling House of Savoy, the royal dynasty of the Kingdom of Italy, and became an important element of Italian military aircraft identification during the 1930s and early 1940s.
The central element of the Savoy arms was a white cross on a red shield. The emblem represented the Italian monarchy rather than the Fascist Party and should not be confused with the fasces insignia used elsewhere on Regia Aeronautica aircraft. The Savoy badge had been incorporated into Italian military aircraft markings by the 1930s and was commonly associated with the aircraft’s national tail markings.
Before Italy entered World War II, Regia Aeronautica aircraft generally carried a green, white, and red tricolor rudder. The House of Savoy crest was frequently positioned on the central white portion of this marking. After Italy entered the war in June 1940, the tricolor rudder was replaced by the distinctive white Savoy Cross, with the royal crest normally positioned in or above the center of the cross.
The white tail cross itself was derived from the heraldry of the House of Savoy, and considerable variation existed in its dimensions and exact placement because early application instructions were interpreted differently by aircraft factories and operational units. The small royal shield provided the identifying detail that connected the large white tail cross directly with the Italian monarchy.
Savoy crests could be seen on many of the best-known aircraft of the Regia Aeronautica, including the Macchi C.200 Saetta, C.202 Folgore and C.205 Veltro; Fiat CR.42 Falco, G.50 Freccia and G.55 Centauro; Reggiane fighters; Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero; Fiat BR.20; and numerous reconnaissance, transport, and bomber aircraft. The marking remained characteristic of Royal Italian aircraft until the political and military upheaval surrounding the 1943 Armistice.
